Relay and circuit breaker



Oct. 25, 1932. L, A H 1,884,654

RELAY AND CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Dec. 3, 1928 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.lax/11914 695%a'7d, T2510 B wwuww ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1932. A GBHARD1,884,654

RELAY AND CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Dec. 3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 29INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1932.

L. A. GEBHARD 1,884,654

RELAY AND CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Dec. 3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z J J a 52304 I N V EN TOR.

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ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS A.GEBIHARD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOB TO WIRED RADIO,INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE RELAY AND CIRCUIT BREAKER Application filedDecember 3, 1928.

My invention relates to a relay and circuit breaker in general and morespecifically to relays and circuit breaker adapted to control anelectrical circuit when the current exceeds or is less than apredetermined value.

An object of my invention is to provide certain improvements in relaysand circuit breakers whereby the same will operate quickly upon apredetermined value of electrical energy.

Another object of my invention is to provide a relay and circuit breakerwhich is calibrated to the definite limits of electrical energy requiredfor its operation.

till another object of my invention is to provide a relay and circuitbreaker which is calibrated to the definite limits of electrical energyrequired for its operation and wherein means are provided for adjustingthe operating characteristics according to such calibration within thesaid limits.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structuralfeatures of my relay and circuit breaker which may best be understood byreferring to the specification following and to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the relay and circuit breaker of myinvention; Fig. 2 is plan view of my relay and circuit breaker; Figs. 3and 4 are illustrations showing bottom and end views of the relay andcircuit breaker of my invention; Figs. 5 and (3 are illustrationsshowing top and end views with parts of the relay and circuit breakerremoved; and Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are illustrations showing structuralfeatures of the armature, contacts and calibration means employed in therelay and circuit breaker of my invention.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the relay in its entirety mounted ona base 1. Base 1 may be of suitable insulating material or may be ofmetal and provided with suitable insulating bushings for supporting theseveral parts. A standard 2 is carried by base 1 and carries spindle 9.An upstanding member 3 is supported by base 1 near the center thereof.Upstanding member 4 is likewise carried by base 1. Member 4 may SerialNo. 323,524.

be constructed from suitable insulating material or of metal. Anelectromagnet 5 is supported by member 3 and member 4 and is movable inrespect thereto. A magnetic armature 6 is pivotally supported withrespect to the upstanding member 7. Armature 6 is held away fromelectromagnet 5 by resilient means 8, the tension being adjustable bymeans of spindle 9.

The movement of armature 6 is restricted by frame member 10. The latteris provided with adjustable screw members 11 and 12 by means of whichthe movement of armature 6 may be controlled between the desiredlimitngpositions. A spring contact member 13 is carried by armature 6and is provided with ad ustable screw 14 extending through member 13into a threaded section of armature 6. The shank of screw 14 is freefrom spring contact member 13 but the head thereof bears against thesame and provides an adjustment between member 13 and armature 6. Asupporting member 35 for electromagnet 5 extends through member 4 and isfree to move therein. This supporting member is provided with a stopscrew 15 for preventing disengagement with upstanding member 4. A knob17 is threaded to receive the end of the supporting member 35. A spring16 is con cen-trically disposed around supporting member betweenupstanding member 4 and the magnetic end member 18. Knob 17 1scalibrated around its periphery and a pointer 17a supported on member 4extends immediately adjacent thereto as shown whereby indications of theadjustments may be observed.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the relay and circuit breaker of myinvention. Like reference characters are employed in all of the figuresof the drawings. Electromagnets 5 and 5a are electrically connected inseries and are supported by the magnetic laterally extending end member18. End member 18 completes the magnetic circuit through electromagnets5 and 5a. Knob 17 and pointer 17a clearly show the calibration by whichthe diflierent adjustments may be determined to enable the relay to bereset to any selected positions. Terminals 21, 21a, 23 and 23a are gagewith pivot member 7 other.

Fig. 4 illustrates an end View of the relay and circuit breaker of myinvention which shows more clearly the calibrated adjustment knob 17 forcontrolling the operating characteristics. Knob 17 is threaded on theshaft 1 or supporting member 35 which is mechanically connected to endmember 18. End member 18 is common to electroma nets 5 and 5a.

Knob 17 is prevented from disengaging with the threaded portion of theshaft by means urementsuch as a reliable meter.

of screw 15.; Knob 17 is divided into two disks placed adjacent andparallel to each other. The disk nearest retaining screw '15 is providedwith a semi-circular aperture 26 through which screw 25 passes andengages with disk 17?). V

Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings shows knob 17. in partial crosssection. Knob 17 in its entirety comprises individual disks 17b and 170.Disk 17 c is threaded to accomodate the threaded portion of shaft Shaft35 is connected to end member 18 and freely passes through the bearingprovided in upstanding member 4. Spring 16 encircles shaft 35 and restsbetween members 4 and 18. Knob 17 rests against member 4 under theaction of spring 16. Disk 17 of knob 17 may be moved independently withrespect to disk 17?) when screw25 is loosened in slot 26.

The periphery oi disk 17 b is suitably calibrated, which calibration maybe adjusted to correspond to the operating characteristics of the relaywith a known standard of meas- V Disks 17b and 170 are then lockedtogether by means of screw 25, shown in Fig. 4. Screw 25 engages with athreaded hole in disk 175. Supporting member 3 is shown in cross-sectionwhich permits an unobstructed top elevation View of armature 6 andspring contact member 13. Hook 30 is clearly shown extended through anaperture in spring contact 13 and connected to armature 6.

Figs. 6', 7 and 8 show the structural features of armature 6, springcontact 13 and other parts of the relay and circuit breaker of myinvention in. greater detail. In Fig. 6, armature 6 is pivoted insuitable bearings provided in members 7. Members 7 are carried bybase 1. Armature 6 is positioned adjacent and in electromagneticrelation to the core members of electromagnets and 5a. Spring contactmember 13 is secured to the lower end of armature 6 by means of screws6a. An aperture 31 is provided in spring contact member 13 of sufficientwidth for hook 30 to pass therethrough without touchin Hook 30 isconnected to armature 6 and does not touch spring contact member 13.

The retaining force exerted by spring 8 is therefore not directed tomember 13 but directly to armature 6. Screw 14 projects through member13 and engages in a threaded hole provided in armature 6. The shank ofscrew 14 does not bind against spring contact member 13, but the head ofscrew 14 is larger than the hole through member 13 and provides meansfor adjusting the special relation of member 13 and armature 6 nearcontact member 25. These features are more clearly shown in Figs. 7 and8.

Fig. 7 is crosssectional view showing upstandin member 3 carried on base1 and armature pivoted in member 7 A U-shaped member 10 is integral withupstanding member and supports adjustable contact members 11 and 12.Member 11 is provided with contact member 28 which may be. of platinumor any suitable contact metal. Member 12 is provided with an insulatingmember 32 which may be of silicate or phenol composition. Members 11 and12 have like threaded portions and may be interchanged. By interchangingmembers 11 and 12 the relay ,and circuit breaker is adapted to completean elect ical circuit when and only when the energy is of the propervalue. Spring contact member 13 may be removed from armature 6 byremoving screws 6a. Spring member 13 may then be located on the side ofaanature 6 nearest the metallic contact member 11 when members 11 and 12are interchanged from the positions shown in 7. Spring contact member 13is provided with an aperture 31 through which hook passes. Member 13 isfree to move independently of armature 6. A hole is provided in member13 near contact member 29 through which the shank of adjusting screw 14passes. The movement of member 13 is not restricted by the shank ofscrew 14 but the head of the screw abuts with spring member 13 when themovement of armature 6 is suiiiciently pronounced. This 5 s betterillustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings which shows springmember 13 immei? diately adjacent to the head of screw 14 and carried bythe movement of armature 6 to the position shown.

Fig. 9 shows the supporting member or shaft 35 which is mechanicallyconnected with the electromagnets. Member 35 is connected to endmember18 the'latter being common to both electromagnets. Shaft 35 extendsthrough supporting member 4 and the movement longitudinally is notrestrictmember 12.

ed by the bearing therein. Knob 17 in its en.- tirety comprises disks 17b and 170 the latter of which is suitably threaded to accommodate thethreaded portion of shaft 35. Disk 17?) is angularly adjustable withrespect to disk 170 over the extended cylindrical portion 176! of thedisk 170. Disks 17b and 170 are free to move independently with respectto each other unless IQSLllClJCCl by screw 25. Screw passes through thesemicircular slot in disk 170, more clearly shown in the foregoingfigures. Screw 25 is threaded into a hole in disk 17b and when properlyadjusted causes disks 1??) and 170 to be closely clamped together. Theperiphery of disk 17b is calibrated. to indicate the energy required tooperate the relay. Screw 15 prevents excessive movement of shaft 35.Spring 16 encircles shaft and rests between members 4 and 18 therebycausing disks 17b and 170 to bear against member 4 at all times. Pointeror indicator 17 is carried by the top of member l and rests adjacent tothe scale provided on disk 176. Disk 17?) may be removed and a like diskbut one having a different calibration may be substituted.

The operation of the relay and circuit breaker of my invention and themany advantages of this type of apparatus will be understood from theaccompanying drawings. By referrin to Figs. 1 and 2, major adjustmentsare clearly indicated. The source of energy is connected to terminals 43and 23a.

Let us assume that the source is alternating currentor direct currentfluctuating in value. A fluctuating magnetic field is established byelectromagnets 5 and 5a. This magnetic field offers an attraction forarmature 6. A suitable standard of measurement device such as an ammetcror microan'imeter is associated with the source of energy connected toterminals 2-323a. Knob 17 is adjusted to a position where the attractionof armature 6 is complete and armature 6 moved against The indication ofthe standard of measurement is observed and the calibration of knob 17is set to indicate this value. Screw 25 is then tightened. A sensitivemeter and local circuit may then be connected to terminals 21-210,. Knob17 is adjusted to a value which allows the return of armature 6 andwhich permits the contact of spring member 18 to contact with member 11.Knob 17 th en adjusted and the meter connected with terminal." 21-2laclosely observed. If it is noticed that the contact between members 11and 13 is unsteady. screw 14. is adjusted. The fluctuating oralternating magnetic field causes armature 6 to vibrate. By correctlyadjusting screw 14, this vibration will not affect member 13 and hencewill not cause the circuit connected with terminals ill- 210, to beunsteady. Adjustment members 11 and 12 may be interchanged, asaforementioned,

to complete an external circuit when a predetermined value of energy isadmitted. to electromagnets 5 and 511. Members 11 and 12 may beelectrically nsulated each from the other and associated with individualelectrical circuits to be controlled. In this manner, a load circuit anda source of energy may be connected with the windings of electromagnets5 and 5a and an increase in the load would cause an additional energybooster or any desired apparatus or circuit to be connected to thecircuit for dividing the load.

The relay and circuit breaker of my invention provides a rugged andreliable energy indicating device and may be employed where the ordinarytype of meter is unsuitable. The adjusting knob for controlling thespacial relation between the armature and the electromagnets may becalibrated to read directly the value of electrical energy or the valuemay be determined by comparing the indication shown on the knob with achart or graph. It is of course necessary to calibrate the adjustmentknob with some known standard. The energy of unknown value is connectedto the electromagnets and the contact members associated with thearmature connected to a suitable indicating circuit. The knob would thenbe adjusted to the p0sition where the indicating circuit was energizedor where it was not energized, depending upon the indication desired. I

The relay and circuit breaker of my invention, while adaptable toalternating and fluctuating sources of energy, may be likewise employedwhere mechanical vibration and shocks in the nnmediate vicinity f therelay would cause other types to be of little value.

I realize that many modifications of the relay and circuit breaker of myinvention are possible without departing from the spirit of my inventionand it is to be understood that 1 do not intend that my invention belimited to the foregoing specification or to the accompanying drawingsbut only as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is as, follows:

1. In a relay, an electromagnet, an armature pivotally mounted foractuation by said electromagnet, a contact member mounted on the side ofsaid armature remote from said electromagnet, and a resilient memberattached to said armature on the side thereof remote from saidelectromagnet and mounted to engage said contact member for permitting amarginal freedom of motion of said armature in its magneticallyunactuated position without disengaging said contact member.

2. In a relay, an electromagnet, an armature pivotally mounted foractuation by said electromagnet, a contact member mounted on the side ofsaid armature remote from said electromagne't, a resilient memberattached to said armature on the side thereof remote from saidelectromagnet and mounted to engage said contact member for permitting amarginal freedom of motion of said armature in its magneticallyunactuated position without disengaging said contact member, and meansremote from the pivot of said armature for limiting the maximumdisplacement of said resilient member with respect to said armature.

3. In a relay, an electroma net, an ermature pivotally mounted for acnation by said electromagnet, a contact member mounted on the side ofsaid armature remote from said electromagnet, a spring attached to saidarmature for opposing the attraction of said electromagnet thereon, anda resilient member attached to said armature on the side thereof remotefrom said electromagnet and substantially parallel to said armature andmounted to engage said contact member for permitting amarginal freedomof motion of said armature in its magnetically unactuated positionwithout disengaging said contact member, said resilient member beingapertured for the passage of said spring.

et. Ina relay, an electromagnet, an armature, means for adjusting thespacial relation of the armature and electromagnet of said relay, a knobconnected with said means, said knob comprising individually movablesections, one of said sections being movable only in respect toadjustments of said spacial relation, and the other of said sectionsbeing provided with calibrations and adapted to be locked to saidmovable section in a selected position for indicating the spacialrelation of said armature and electromagnet.

5. In a relay, an eiectromagnet, an armature pivotally mounted foractuation by said electromagnet, a contact'member mounted on the side ofsaid armature remote from said electromagnet, a connecting memberattached to said armature, a coil spring attached to said connectingmember for opposing the attraction of said electromagnet on saidarmature and a resilient member attached to said armature on the sidethereof remote from said electromagnet and substantially parallel tosaid armature and mounted to engage said contact member for permitting amarginalfreedom of motion of said armature in its magneticallyunactuated position without disengaging said contact member, saidresilient member being apertured for the passage of the connectingmember which connects with said spring.

6. In a relay, an electromagnet, an armature pivotally mounted foractuation by said 7 electromagnet, a contact member mounted on the sideof said armature remote from said electromagnet, a resilient memberattached to said armature on the side thereof remote from saidelectromagnet and mounted to engage said contact member for permitting amarginal freedom of motion of said armature in its magneticallyunactuated position without disengaging said contact member, sa dresilient member being apertured at a point remote from the pivot ofsaid armature and an ustable screw carried by said armature, the shankof said screw passing through the aperture in said resilient member andthe head of said screw projecting beyond the sides of said aperture forengaging the side of said resilient member remote from said armature forlimiting the maximum dis placement of said resilient member with respectto said armature.

LOUIS A. GEBIIARD.

